MATT OAKLEY walked gingerly down the side of the pitch at Saints' Staplewood training ground yesterday, clutching a brown envelope containing x-rays and admitted: "It doesn't look good right now."

The Southampton midfielder was clattered into by Charlton's Richard Rufus after just three minutes of Saturday's Premiership game at The Valley badly injuring his left knee.

Oakley was carrying old x-rays to take with him to hospital where doctors will take a further look.

"It is very painful," he said. "I don't know at the moment how bad it is. I have got to have a scan first. It could be ligament damage, it could be cartilage, hopefully it is nothing."

The 24-year-old was bitterly disappointed to pick up the injury to early in the game - he eventually hobbled off after eight minutes. The previous week, Oakley had scored in the 2-0 victory over Derby and had been looking to establish himself in a very competitive midfield area.

He added: "There was a loose ball between us and I fully expected Rufus to get there before me and clear the ball. But the ball got under my foot, and he came over the top of the ball, and put his weight through my knee. I didn't expect there to be a tackle at all.

"My legs felt numb at first and I was worried, but sometimes you hit a nerve and you get that numbness. At the moment I would have to say I am doubtful for the game on Saturday - I can't even jog at the moment.

"It is disappointing because I was really looking forward to the Charlton game. You spend the whole week preparing for a match, working to play a certain way, and then it is all over in three or four minutes.

"I scored in the last game and things were starting to look up for me then this happens. It is frustrating."

It is the second injury Oakley has sustained this season. He was out for almost a month around Christmas with an ankle injury.

There is better news for Chris Marsden. He has an injection in an injured ankle yesterday and said that he was optimistic about being fit for Saturday's game with Everton at St Mary's.

l Saints reserves suffered a 1-0 defeat at Wimbledon last night despite twice hitting the woodwork.

Coach Dennis Rofe saw a young Saints team lose out to an early goal from Wimbledon's Ansash Owusu after just three minutes at Kingstonian's ground in Surrey.

Goalkeeper Neil Moss failed to get any distance as he tried to punch clear a corner and, after an initial shot was blocked, 22-year-old Owusu, a product of Wimbledon's youth system, fired home.

Saints had their chances to equalise in this FA Premier Reserve League (South) clash, with Arron Davies hitting the crossbar and French striker Eric Hassli striking the post with a header.

Australian frontman, Scott McDonald twice went close with good first-half chances and Brett Poate missed out with a second-half opportunity which was blocked.

Rofe, who was stepping in for Steve Wigley who has teamed up with David Platt on England under-21 duty, said: "We deserved a lot better than we got, and although it was disappointing to lose I was not happy with the way we played."